AN: Thanks for all the wonderful reviews...it means a lot!

Chapter 21

Angel drove through the streets of LA on their way back from destroying the demon. He anxiously wanted to return to spend the evening with his Childe. He was lost in his thoughts when he heard Wesley and Gunn shout his name.

"Angel, man!" Gunn said from the back seat, "You almost missed the turn."

Angel realized his mistake and promptly apologized as he made a hasty right turn. "Sorry, guys. I don't know where my mind is."

"That was a harrowing encounter with the demon." Wesley added as he cleaned his glasses while sitting in the front passenger seat.

Gunn snorted. "Come on, English." He grinned. "Angel ain't thinking about no damn fight. My guess, he has Blondie on the brain."

Angel felt himself blush. He did not usually discuss his relationship with his friends; although he did not hide it either. "I'm sorry if you guys have a problem with me and Spike..."

"Hey, man. Blondie's cool. I'm no homophobe. You're gay? Don't matter to me." Gunn responded.

"What? I'm not gay. We're vampires. It's a totally different thing." Angel said a little too quickly. "Not that there's anything wrong with being gay." Angel smiled.

"He is correct, Charles. Vampires are known to transcend gender when it comes to their sexual appetites." The Ex-Watcher added.

"Okay!" Angel nearly shouted. "Enough about my sex life! I just want to get back to see Spike, okay?"

"Of course, Angel." Wesley said and turned to Gunn. "What will you do tonight, Charles?"

"Me? Oh...well...I promised Anne that I would come down to the shelter and help her unload some new arrivals." The vampire hunter sat back. Wesley and Angel shared a look. "What?" Gunn sat up quickly and leaned into the front.

"Well, Gunn. You've been spending a lot of time at the shelter with Anne." Angel smiled.

"What of it?" Gunn became defensive.

"Charles, it is wonderful that you have a lady friend in your life."

"Uh, uh." Gunn answered suspisciously. He expected the two to mock him. "And what about you, English? When are you going to get the balls to ask out Cordelia?"

"What?" Wesley's answer sounded like a high squeak. "Why would you think I was interested in Cordelia?" He chuckled nervously and shifted in his seat.

"I'm generally clueless, but even I know you like Cordy." Angel paused. "Okay, Spike told me, but, I can smell your arousal every time she walks into the room."

"Well, " the Englishman huffed, "that is totally inappropriate for you to share, Angel." Wesley adjusted his glasses. "While I find Cordelia attractive, we have a professional relationship and nothing more."

"Yeah, but YOU want more, English. Own up to it, man, and ask her out already."

Wesley dropped his head for a moment and became quite solemn. "After what transpired in Sunnydale, I doubt she would ever return my feelings."

Gunn laughed. "You mean that pathetic kiss she and you had? Come on, Wes. I know she likes you. Before we moved back to the hotel, we all spent a lot of time working together in that small office. And I wasn't always around. But I could tell that you two dig each other." Gunn chuckled and looked at Angel. "Help me out, man."

"Well, yeah, Wes. Her scent changes when you two are together." Angel replied.

"Think about it, Wes." Gunn added.

"Well," Wesley responded, "I shall ponder the situation...privately." He said almost petulantly as he looked away. He had a small smile on his face.

Cordelia groaned as her weakened body slowly regained consciousness. She was in agony as the wound from her left shoulder became apparent. She forced herself into a seated position as her back rested upon the wall. She surveyed the room as her vision became more clear. She saw Spike and Lindsey laying motionless on the floor. She remembered the inhuman screaming coming from Spike as he squeezed Lindsey's neck. Tears poured from her eyes as she feared for the blond vampire. Cordelia attempted to raise herself from the floor. Dizziness and nausea consumed her as even the slightest movements elicited these reactions. She practically crawled up the edge of the front desk to reach the phone. She grabbed onto the cord with her right arm and pulled the phone from the desk. She had little strength to keep herself upright and fell with a thud back to the ground. She screamed as her shoulder came into the contact with the hard lobby vinyl flooring. She forced herself to remain conscious to alert the others. 'Just call Wesley' she thought over and over in her head. She forced her eyes to focus on the numbers on the receiver. Her finger shook as she slowly dialed the number to Wesley's mobile phone. She breathed heavily as she feared he may not answer.

The car returned to a silent state as they continued towards their destination. The quiet was interrupted by a ring. Wesley dug into his pocket as he placed his glasses back on. He looked at the others as he answered. "Hello?" At first he heard nothing. Then, he strained his ears and heard heavy breathing. "Hello?

All he heard was a weak, quiet voice. "Wesley..." At this sound, Wesley sat straight up as he felt his heart sink. "Cordelia, is that you? What's wrong?"

Angel noted that Wesley's heartbeat was racing. "What's wrong with her?" Angel said as he tried to concentrate on the road. "Is Spike okay?"

Wesley ignored Angel's questions. "Cordy? I cannot hear you well."

"Wesley...help..." That was all he could hear.

"We will arrive shortly, Cordelia. Hold on. Keep talking to me." There was an urgency in the Ex-Watcher's voice that Angel nor Gunn had ever heard. They feared the worst. The call abruptly ended. "Cordelia? Cordelia?" Wesley shouted. He frantically redialed the Hyperion, but received a busy tone. He turned to Angel with wide eyes.

"We'll get there in a few minutes." Angel said as he floored the pedal.

The classic Plymouth pulled up to the Hyperion and screeched to a halt. The three leapt from the car . No words were spoken as they ran into the lobby. They stopped in their tracks as the scene they confronted looked like a battlefield. Cordelia lay by the desk, bleeding, with the phone to her side. Lindsey and Spike were practically side by side in the middle of the lobby. The scent of Spike's and Cordelia's blood flooded into Angel's senses. His demon howled as he saw Spike lying in a pool of blood. Gunn and Wesley ran to Cordelia while Angel ran to Spike's side. He was stunned as he fell to his knees and carefully gathered his Childe into his arms. Blood oozed from Spike's eyes, ear, trickled out of his mouth. "Will?" Angel said as he shook the blond slightly. There was no response, not even a groan. Spike's eyes were open, but were distant and vacant. Angel quickly surveyed Spike's body and was surprised to find no open wounds. "Will...please...what's wrong?" Angel trembled as his eyes watered. He cradled Spike to him as he looked over at Gunn who stood over Wesley and Cordelia.

"Cordy?" Wesley said in a shaky voice as he hurriedly brought a handkerchief from his pocket and held it over the bleeding wound. He was not sure what had happened so he did not want to make any sudden movements with her. "Cordelia?" He said as he stroked her pale face.

Her eyes fluttered open and she attempted to smile. "You're here."

"Yes. We're here. You're going to be okay."

Cordelia tried to lick her dry, cracked lips. "Lindsey..."

"Try not to talk." He looked to Gunn for a moment who was at Lindsey's side. The vampire hunter leaned over the body. He felt no pulse and shook his head.

"Lindsey's gone. He cannot hurt anyone." Wesley assured her.

"Lindsey...shot me...Spike ...saved me...c-choked him..." It was becoming more difficult for her to speak.

"Try not to say anything, Cordy." Wesley's eyes watered. "Save your strength. We are going to get you help." He said as he heard Gunn calling 911.

"Ambulance is comin'." Gunn said as he tucked his phone back into his pocket. He looked around for a moment. "Stay with her. I'm going to take the body before anyone asks any questions." He looked worriedly at Cordelia and glanced at Angel on the other side of the room. The dark vampire still held his Childe.

Wesley departed for a moment to his office and procured a blanket for Cordelia. He placed it over her and quickly went over to Angel. Wesley's voice was full of emotion. "Angel, an ambulance is coming for Cordy." He did not receive a response from him. He simply sat rocking Spike back and forth. He grabbed Angel and stopped his movements. "Damn it, Angel! Listen to me. They are coming to get Cordy in a few minutes! Do you still want to be here? They may ask questions." He looked worriedly at Spike.

"He won't respond to me, Wes..." A tear slipped from his eye. "He doesn't have any wounds, but he's covered in his blood." He paused. "It's different than the last time." Angel's heart felt such despair. He could not lose Spike after everything they had endured.

"Cordelia said that Spike saved her. Lindsey shot her and Spike choked Lindsey..." Wesley paused as he forced himself to be rational for a moment. "Can he do that? With the chip? Surely there would have to be consequences, yes?"

Angel gasped. "Oh, gods, the chip." Angel thought for a moment and stood up still holding the unconscious vampire. He gingerly walked to the couch and placed his precious load down. He turned and he looked with concern at his pale friend. Cordelia's heartbeat was present, but weak. Angel's voice shook as he spoke. "She needs blood, Wes."

"They'll be here, soon." Wesley said as he knelt down next to Cordelia and stroked her hair.

Angel picked Spike back up and turned towards the exit.

"Where are you going to take him for help?" Wesley asked.

"Back to Dr. Walker." Angel said strongly as he walked out the doors to the hotel.

Angel sat in the waiting room at the clinic. When he arrived, the medical personnel practically had to restrain Angel as they took Spike away to run tests. The last two hours had been hell. He kept replaying the images of finding Spike and Cordelia over and over in his head. He felt responsible for allowing them to get hurt. He should have killed Lindsey when he had the chance. But at the time, his soul could not allow him to kill a human. As a result, two of the most important people in his unlife suffered because of his indecision and weakness.

He was startled from his thoughts by his phone ringing. "Hello?"

"Angel, it's Wesley."

"How is Cordy?"

"She went to surgery. They were able to stop the bleeding. She is in the Intensive Care Unit, but they expect she will make a full recovery." Angel could hear the relief in Wesley's voice. "How is Spike?"

"I...I don't know yet. He's been in with Dr. Walker for some time."

"He will be fine as well. I am sure of it." Wesley tried to be encouraging. He considered Spike his friend as well.

"Thanks, Wes. Well...I better go..."

"Of course. Please let us know."

"Sure." Angel said almost absently as he closed his phone. He stood up abruptly and paced. He turned towards the door as it opened. His heart sank as he watched the doctor come towards him.

The doctor looked human, but was a half breed. He was a Brachen demon, as was Doyle. He was tall with dark hair and green eyes. He motioned to Angel to sit on the couch.

Angel sat opposite to the doctor. His voice was dry, but he forced the words to come out of his mouth. "How is he?"

The doctor attempted a small smile. "From what you told me, Angel, we were correct to assume a malfunctioning of the chip was the culprit..."

Angel interrupted him. "So, if chip didn't work, why is he like this?"

"Unfortunately, the chip was working, Angel."

Angel's eyes were confused. "I don't understand."

"I think I misspoke when I called it a malfunction. If Spike ignored the impulses to hurt a human, his brain had a sort of overload. On his exam, he was unresponsive to pain and his pupils did not react to routine tests." He paused as he watched Angel look down. "I repeated the scan of his head."

Angel felt a lump in his throat. "What did it show?"

"It showed extensive hemorrhage or bleeding throughout his brain. The brain is a fixed space and when there is so much bleeding it starts to squeeze on the brain tissue."

Angel's eyes flickered yellow. "What are you trying to say?"

"We need to operate and drain the blood around his brain."

"And the chip?"

"If I'm able to find it, I will remove it."

"But, you said there can be brain damage if you remove it."

The doctor looked sympathetic. "Yes, I did, Angel. At the time, an operation like that was too risky. At this point, he will never recover if we do not remove the blood."

"So, if you do this...drain the blood...he'll be fine?" Angel asked in a hopeful voice. "He'll be back to normal?"

The doctor looked down for a moment. "I have to be honest. With such widespread bleeding, Spike could recover or he could have some deficiences."

"Meaning?" Angel was trying hard not to let his anger escalate.

"Any part of his brain could be involved. Motor skills, language, memory, or sensory areas can be affected."

"So he may not be able to talk or walk or see?" Angel stood as he vamped. "Is that what you're telling me?"

Dr. Walker stood as well. "Please, Angel. I only want you to be prepared. I cannot predict as of yet. It is too early. Right now, he is in a coma. After the operation, it could be a slow recovery. Only time will tell." He sighed. "I just wanted you to know the facts."

Angel walked to the room and looked out the window into the night sky. Tears poured from his eyes. He wiped the tears and turned to the doctor. "When will you take him?"

"Now. They are prepping him for surgery as we speak. Why don't you come see him before he goes." He held his arm out for Angel to walk through the door. They walked silently down a long gray corridor. They passed through a set of double doors. "There is a small hospital adjacent to my building." They continued to walk until they reached the Intensive Care. Spike was the only patient. He was dressed in a white hospital gown. He looked as pale as the garment. His eyes were closed and he lay completely still. Angel rushed over to him and with a shaky hand, caressed his cheek.

"Hey, Will." Angel said into the blond vampire's ear. "They're going to take good care of you. They'll make you all better, my childe... I'm so proud of you, Will. You saved Cordelia. Did you know that? She's going to be okay because of you." He continued to stroke the sunken, pale cheek as tears fell from his chocolate brown eyes. "When you wake up, you'll kick my arse for acting like such a nancyboy. Right? Will?" Angel started to sob as he lay his head on Spike's chest. "Don't leave me, Spike. Please don't leave me." Angel lifted his head when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"It's time, Angel." Dr. Walker said quietly. Angel stood in shock and with wide eyes as the gurney slowly rolled away from him.

"Please..." Angel said urgently to the doctor.

"We'll do the best we can, Angel." The doctor nodded as he walked away. He closed the door behind him leaving Angel standing alone.

TBC...